ISKCONResolve and the Justice Ministry

Braja Bihari dasa

Euro ELM October 5th, 2006

Seven Purposes of ISKCON• 1. To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society

at large in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.

• 2. To propagate a consciousness of Krishna, as it is revealed in the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.

• 3. To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity.

• 4. To teach and encourage the sankirtan movement• 5. To erect for the members and for society at large, a holy

place of transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the personality of Krishna.

• 6. To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.

• 7. With a view towards achieving aforementioned Purposes, to publish and distribute magazines, books and other writings.

Summary of ISKCON’s Purposes

1. Help ISKCON devotees become more Krishna Conscious

2. Help others take to Krishna consciousness

Causes of Conflict

Adapted from Peace Skills, A Manual for Community Mediators

Does Conflict Resolution Have Anything to Do With ISKCON’s

Mission?• Leaders spend so much time on conflict.

• When devotees point out the bad qualities of others, they acquire those qualities themselves.

• Srila Prabhupada’s statement about ISKCON only being checked from within

• Unhealthy conflicts makes ISKCON a place people don’t want to be a part of.

What Causes Conflict?

Least Difficult to Resolve

Most Difficult to Resolve

Info

rmati

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Resou

rces

Structu

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Values

Conflicts about Information

• Mis-information. (using grazing land, adopted Gov’t curriculum)

• Different interpretation of data (exorbitant rent)

• Different views on what information is relevant• Lack of information (one or both parties

speculate about information) or just doesn’t know (GBC resolution)– Organization doesn’t communicate sufficiently

with members

Conflict over Resources

• Conflicts will be over material resources:– Land– Money– Objects– manpower

• Not enough room for the Brahmacaris• No place for the cows to graze• Remember SKP zone wars? New Vrindavan?

Radha Damodara?

Conflict About Structures

• Organizations (like (ISKCON) often find conflicts due to members concerns over:– Access to power– Access to resources– How decisions are made

• Dual lines of authority• Is the Gurukula under the Temple or not• Caring for devotees Vs spreading Krishna

consciousness.• Unclear job descriptions. Differences in paid staff and

volunteers• SKP competition

Conflicts involving Values

• Values are formed by Guru/Sadhu/Sastra but also by life experiences and culture.

• Challenges to a value are a threat to a person or group’s identity.

• Most difficult to resolve.• Reaction to this conflict is usually defensive.• Withdrawal possible to preserve identity.• Assumption is that resolution of conflict involves a change in

identity.• If opportunity given to clarify values and feel heard, people

move away from defensiveness and mutually resolve conflicts.• They should raise funds in their own name, since their activities are clearly separate from

ISKCON.

Values continued…

• Assumption is that resolution of conflict involves a change in identity.

• If opportunity given to clarify values and feel heard, people move away from defensiveness and mutually resolve conflicts.

• “They should raise funds in their own name, since their activities are clearly separate from ISKCON.”

How Should ISKCON Leaders React to Conflict

• Cool headed: know that conflict is inevitable. “Non-Anxious Presence”

• Try to understand it’s multiple causes• Deal with it decisively, even if the decision is to

do nothing for time being. Calmly figure out the next step.

• Try to get others to deal with it—avoid criticism of partiality on your part

• Recognize “Naïve Realism”• Think of your options:…..

Recognize Naïve Realism

1. I’m a reasonable, rational, unbiased person. I basically see objective reality.

2. Other rational people will share my views

3. If they don’t, they are either:a. Exposed to very different information

b. Lazy or irrational

c. Ill-motivated, biased

ISKCON’s Approaches to Conflict

Decreasing Power of Disputants to Manage their own conflicts

Negotiation

Private or Community Decision Making

(Possibility of Enhancing Relationships)

Formal Decision Making Avoidance

Mediation

Arbitration

Legislation

Community Ends Law BeginsAdapted from www.communityboards.org

TP/GBC/ISKCON Authority decision

#1

#2

#3

Three ways to deal with a Problem

• Interests

• Rights

• Power

What Can You Do? The ISKCON System….Option #1

• Option #1: Take a managerial decision. – This is Prabhupada’s management system– TP’s, GBCs and ultimately the GBC body have the

privilege and duty to make decisions in accord with guru, sadhu and sastra and in the best interests of ISKCON

– Pros: quick. Practical. – Cons: When leaders take decisions, some won’t like

it. After enough decisions, many will have been displeased at one time or another.

• Takes up a huge amount of leader’s time

The ISKCON System—Option #2

• #2 Arbitration/investigation/adjudication• That CPO judges and others be trained to

deal with ISKCON conflicts and internal complaints of improper activities

• Pros: Appropriate in some cases. Disputants won’t accept other processes

• Cons: investigations take time, are costly, are often inconclusive, and in reality are far more subjective than we tend to think

The ISKCON System—Option 3

• #3. ISKCONResolve• Pros: Can not only solve conflict but can also

improve relationships; saves time; devotees feel heard; Leaders don’t have to get involved in all conflicts; conflicts solved as locally as possible; devotees become empowered to solve their own problems; devotees keep the power with them to decide outcome

• Cons: Not all conflicts solved this way; sometimes issues are such that a new ISKCON law or managerial precedent is required; shouldn’t replace ISKCON authority structure

ISKCONResolve: Ombudsman

Neutral—The ombudsman advocates for fair process favoring neither for the visitor or management

Confidential—Unless given permission by the Visitor to reveal his identity, the ombuds keeps all discussions confidential

Independent—The ombuds has access to the GBC body, but s/he is not within the regular ISKCON authority structure

OmbudsmanAppointed by Leadership to assist all

devoteesDevotees can contact an ombuds knowing

they will be confidential and neutralHelp with shuttle diplomacy. Arranging

mediations; offering option

Helps to cut down the festering of ill feelings

“Traffic cop” / Report trends to leadership

Ombudsman: Sample cases

Many times devotees threatening to take ISKCON to Court

A woman afraid that her previous devotee/lover will reveal to the world the details of an affair they had

Questioning the productivity of an ISKCON Ministry

Gurukulis / temple conflictA devotee feeling their guru keeps

initiating newcomers but gives no time to other disciples

Mediation• Two parties voluntarily agree to work out

differences with the help of a impartial 3rd person• The mediator facilitates disputants as they work

toward their own solution. Mediator is not a judge. Disputants get to speak their concerns openly but in the presence of a trained person who directs the process

• Often takes between two and five hours to complete. Saves lots of time.

• Can lead to improved relationships

GBC Resolution:

Whereas, The GBC body seeks to demonstrate its interest in the concerns of ISKCON devotees, and seeks to encourage the timely voluntary resolution of disputes within ISKCON

Whereas, the universal practice of International organizations is to provide machinery of prompt resolution of internal disputes,

And whereas it is universally accepted that ombudsmen provide an effective and confidential means of addressing individual concerns with the organization.

And whereas it is universally accepted that mediation entered intovoluntarily by two disputant parties with the help of a trained mediator is a proven procedure for resolving interpersonal disputes to the mutual satisfaction of the disputants.

GBC Resolution:

Resolved that:  The GBC announces the universal support of the establishment of a voluntary dispute resolution system to facilitate the resolution of members concerns.

To accomplish this end, we unanimously urge regions and local temples to undertake the establishment of regional based ombuds and mediation structures.

Members of the GBC pledge their support in the develop of these structures and in being responsive to the concerns of members brought to their attention through these processes.

A Sub-committee of Braja Bihari dasa, Madhava Pandit dasa, and Arnold M Zack shall coordinate these efforts on behalf of the GBC body.

Results to date:

•Great preaching potential, as ISKCON is the first religious organization in the world to take up ADR on a Global basis. We’ve trained the Anglican Church, and worked with the Catholic Church in the US. Also are training judges and lawyers in India’s High Courts. •Done many mediations•Over 500 ombud’s visitors•Started arbitration system•Conflict analysis

How can we prevent conflict

• The key is to have a “nonanxious presence”. Listen well. Expect conflicts

• Preach strongly against unhealthy triangling by gossip. Instead encourage direct communications.

• Encourage devotees to look for the good in others, and know that when they focus on the faults, they will also acquire them.

• Teach devotees communication skills • Have everyone chant attentively and always

remember Krishna!

For more information

• www.iskconresolve.com